From Your Local Epidemiologist
If you’re on Medicare and have leveraged convenient telehealth appointments, that’s about to end.
Medicare originally expanded its coverage of at-home telehealth services during the Covid-19 emergency, which was an important move to protect seniors and has become a critical service for those in rural communities.
As part of the deal to keep the government open in December, Congress proposed a bill to extend telehealth coverage for two years. However, Elon Musk struck down that bill; the ultimate package that kept the government open only extended coverage through March 31.
The change doesn’t apply to all telehealth services: for those in urban areas, monthly home dialysis visits for end-stage renal disease, acute stroke, and mental/behavioral health visits can still occur via telehealth. For those in rural areas, people must be at a healthcare facility to access telehealth services.